Rockies squander four-run first inning in blowout loss at Arizona
Looking to play the role of spoilers, the Rockies instead spoiled a strong start in the rubber match of their three-game set in Arizona.
Spotted a four-run lead before even taking the mound, Colorado starter Chris Flexen was nonetheless unable to make it stand up in a 12-5 loss to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The loss dropped the Rockies to 3-13 in their last 16 games and 51-88 overall. They are now on pace to finish a franchise-worst 59-103, with a trip to San Francisco for a three-game set up next.
After pitching at least five innings in each of his last six starts, Flexen (1-7) failed to make it out of the third inning on Wednesday. The right-hander was pulled after Alek Thomas drilled an 88 mph cutter 395 feet to right field for a three-run home run and 6-5 D-backs lead. The bomb punctuated a five-run frame for Arizona, which never relinquished the lead after that.
Thomas drove in five runs and Tommy Pham had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored for Arizona, which took two of three against Colorado. The Rockies finished 3-10 against the D-backs this season, losing all four series between the two NL West rivals.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added a solo homer and Bryce Jarvis (2-0) walked one in two innings for his second MLB win to keep Arizona within reach of the third and final NL wild-card spot.
Still, things looked bleak early on for the hosts.
The Rockies jumped on Arizona starter Zach Davies with four runs in the first inning.
Davies walked the game’s first two batters and Brendan Rodgers followed with a run-scoring single. Nolan Jones then lined a two-run triple to left-center and fellow rookie Hunter Goodman made it 4-0 with an RBI single. Goodman now has eight RBIs in nine games since being called up by the big league club.
Rookie outfielder Brenton Doyle added an RBI single in the third inning to put Colorado up 5-1, but that was the end of Colorado’s scoring for the afternoon.
The D-backs responded by erupting for eight runs in the third and fourth innings, finishing with 13 hits.
On top of Flexen’s struggles (six earned runs, four hits, two walks over 2 1/3 innings), reliever Gavin Hollowell was roughed up (three earned runs over 1 1/3 innings) immediately after him.
Colorado pitchers issued five walks and hit four batters, with six of those batters later scoring.
Pitching matchup
The Rockies are off Thursday before beginning a three-game set in San Francisco on Friday.
Pitching probables
Friday: Rockies TBA at Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.70), 8:15 p.m., ATTRM
Saturday: Rockies TBA at Giants TBA, 7:05 p.m., ATTRM
Sunday: Rockies TBA at Giants TBA, 6:10 p.m., ESPN
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